Loose leaf binder



Nv.7,1939. f ROQUNGER Em- 2.178.767

LOOSE LEAF B INDER Filed April 2, 1937 I2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j j N--w 16 1L:J5 Z0r Paul O. [f77/ge?1 `fen/7272, Hou/awa! Tal/77@ 2 sheets-'sheet 2P. o. UNGER Er AL LoosE LEAF BINDER Filed April 2, 1957 Nov. 7, 1939.

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y which Patented Nov. 7, 1939 Loose LEAF lampen raul o. Unger, Elmhurst,and John Howard 'raimage, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Wilson-JonesCompany, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April2, 1937, Serial No. 134,486

6 Claims.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders and more particularly to aseal for permitting reference to the contents of a loose leaf binderwhile preventing unauthorized insertion of sheets into the binder.

Visible ring binders are quite often used in connection with permanentregistration lists of voters. The binders are retained in the courthouse during most of the year and are sent to the various precincts atelection time so that the election clerks can refer to the list toascertain whether any individual is registered and is therefore entitledto vote. It is important that no sheets be surreptitiously inserted intothe binder i so as to permit illegal votes to be cast in any election.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and erlicientmeans for sealing a loose leaf binder to prevent unauthorized insertionof sheets into the binder which will not prevent ready reference to thesheets in the binder. Other objects of this invention will becomeapparent upon reference to the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in

Figure l is a fragmentary plan View of a loose leaf binder illustratingone embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective detail view of the sealing means shown inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line III-III ofFigure 1 with the sheets removed;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line IV-IV ofFigure l with the sheets removed;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing another embodiment of theinvention; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing another embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a back member towhich a pair of cover members 3 are hinged, as indicated at 4. Althoughthe hinges illustrated are metal, it will be understood that the coversmay be hinged to the back member in any suitable manner. A metal springback 5 is secured to the back member 2 in any suitable manner. A pair oftoggle plates E is mounted in the spring back with the outer edges ofthe toggle plates abutting the edges l of the spring back. Each toggleplate has secured to it a plurality of sheet retaining ring sections 8which engage the ends of opposite ring sections to form closed ringswhen the toggle plates are in the position illustrated in (Cl. 12S- 24)Figures 1 and 3. A cover plate 9 is positioned over the toggle plates 6with its outer edges embracing the edges of the spring back.

A trigger Ill is secured to each end of the ring metal. Each trigger isprovided with a lip II projecting inwardly so as to engage the uppersurface of the toggle plates and to depress-them to close the ringmembers t when the triggers are pressed inwardly. Each trigger I il isprovided With a boosting lip I2 which is preferably integral with thetrigger and is bent from the lower edge of the trigger to projectunder'the ends of the toggle plates 6, as shown in Figure 4. When themechanism is in the position illustrated in Figure 3, a small outwardforce applied against the upper portion of either trigger will cause thelip l2 to lift the toggle plates ii and thereby move the ring sectionsto open position.

Each trigger is provided with an aperture I3 through which a rod I4 maybe inserted. The rod is preferably formed of metal, but anynonstretchable material may be used. The rod I4 has a flange i5 at oneend thereof, and an enlarged head le is permanently secured to theflange in any suitable manner. The opposite end of the rod Ill isprovided with a notch Il adapted to engage one edge of the triggeradiacent the aperture I3 when the triggers are in the position shown inFigure 4 to help retain the ring metal in closed position. A smallaperture I8 is positioned near the notch Il so that the aperture I8 liesjust outside the trigger I when the rod I4 is in the position indicatedin Figure 4.

A wire I9 is threaded through the aperture and is twisted as indicatedat 2li, Figure 1. The twisted ends 2@ of the wir-e I9 are sealed with afrangible seal 2l. As can be seen from an inspection of Figure 4, theenlarged end I@ and the wire I9 absolutely prevent outward movement ofthe triggers Ill. possible to open the ring members 3 unless the wire leis iirst removed from the rod. It is obvious that the rod i4 must t theapertures i3 snugly to prevent the wire I9 from being forced into theaperture I3 a distance sufficient to per-y mit movement of the triggers.The seal 2l orA the wire I9 must be broken before the wire can beremoved. The seal 2l is preferably a conventional form of metal seal,but it may be formed of paper or any other material.

After the wire I 9 has been removed, the rod Ill is lifted to disengagethe notch Il from the edge of the aperture I3 and either trigger I0 ispressed outwardly to open the ring sections 8 so sheets 22 may beinserted in the binder. The

Accordingly it is imi notch l1 protects the wire I9 from any outwardforce accidentally applied to either trigger.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 5 is the same asthat illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, except that a round rod 23 issubstituted for the flat rod I4. The end of the rod having the apertureI8 is threaded, as indicated at 24, and the inner surface of the triggerI0' around the edge of the aperture I3 is similarly threaded, asindicated at 25, so that triggers may be maintained in upright positionwithout any strain on the Wire I9. The edge of the enlarged end 2S isknurled, as indicated at 2l, to facilitate rotation of the rod 23. Therod 23 must be screwed out of engagement with the aperture I 3 beforethe triggers can be moved to ring opening position. In the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in Figure 6, a bracket 28 is secured in anysuitable manner to each end of the cover plate 9' so as to provide anupstanding flange 29 adjacent the trigger I0". The flanges 29 and thetriggers I0" are provided with apertures I3" so that a Wire I9 may bethreaded through said apertures and secured by the seal 2|.

Although the invention has been described with particular reference tovoters permanent registration systems, it will be understood that theinvention is applicable to any type of loose leaf binder wherever it isdesired to seal the binder against tampering without preventingreference to the contents of the binder. A few preferred embodiments ofthe invention have been described in considerable detail. However itwill be understood that the description is illustrative, rather thanrestrictive, as many details may be modied or changed without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, We do not desireto be restricted to the exact structure described, except as limited bythe appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of divided ring members, a pairof upstanding triggers operatively connected to said ring members so asto move outwardly whenever said ring members are opened, and meansconnected directly to said triggers for sealing said triggers againstoutward movement.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of divided ring members, a pairof upstanding triggers operatively connected to said ring members, saidtriggers being pivoted to move outwardly when said ring members areopened, a rod connected to both of said triggers, and a frangible sealsecured to said rod and adapted to prevent said outward movement of saidtriggers without destruction of said seal.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of toggle plates, a plurality of ringsections mounted on said toggle plates, a pair of triggers operativelyconnected to said toggle plates s0 as to move whenever said toggleplates are moved, said triggers being operable to open said ringsections, an unstretchable member engaging said triggers, and a seal onsaid unstretchable member, said seal preventing movement of saidtriggers to ring opening position without destruction of said seal.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of divided ring members, a pairof upstanding triggers operable to open and close said ring members, arod connected to said triggers, an enlargement at one end of said rod,and sealing means at the other end of said rod, said sealing means beingeffective to prevent opening of said ring members without destruction ofsaid sealing means.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of divided ring members, a pairof upstanding triggers pivoted to move outwardly when said ring membersare opened, each of said triggers being apertured, a rod passing throughsaid apertures, said rod having an enlarged head at one end and a notchadjacent the opposite end adapted to engage the edge of one of saidapertures to hold said triggers in upstanding position, and sealingmeans on said rod to prevent outward movement of said triggers withoutdestruction of said seal.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of divided ring members, a pairof upstanding triggers adapted to move when said ring members areopened, a cover plate, a bracket xed to said cover plate adjacent eachof said triggers, and a seal connecting each of said triggers and itsadjacent bracket, said seals preventing the movement of said ringmembers to open position without destruction of said seals.

PAUL O. UNGER. JOHN HOWARD TALMAGE.

